Skipper Chris MacKenzie emphasised why he?s rated by many to be the best keeper in non-league football with a brilliant individual performance.

MacKenzie, who suffered a knee injury early on, showed the quality and agility that has made him a firm favourite with the Manor Park faithful and a villain with the Margate supporters.

The former Leyton Orient and Northampton shot-stopper produced a series of stunning saves to brighten up a dank and dingy afternoon on the Kent coast for the loyal, travelling Nuneaton fans.

However, the home followers gave MacKenzie a torrid 90 minutes of abuse and foul language as they remembered the Boro keeper?s remarks to those behind his goal in the reverse fixture back in mid-September during his team?s gritty 3-2 success.

But despite all the scathing comments and mickey-taking, MacKenzie was the winner in the end as his acrobatical display frustrated Margate and gave his side a splendid boost.

Andy Ducros, in his second loan spell this season, gave Steve Burr?s men the lead with an incredible strike from fully 30 yards inside ten minutes but Simon Beard, who grabbed the equaliser in the injury time of the corresponding fixture last season, headed Margate level soon after.

But that proved to be the last time MacKenzie was beat and no-one was more pleased with his and the team?s display that the keeper himself.

?I got plenty of stick from the home fans but I think that only inspired me.

?It all came about from the home game when we came back from two goals down to win 3-2 and I think a few things were said as everyone, including the spectators, were a bit emotional and obviously they hadn?t forgotten.

?But I did my job, made some good saves at crucial times and in the end I think I earned my wages in what was an enjoyable game.

?I didn?t feel that well at any time during the game but everything seem to go for me.

?It was among my best performances since I?ve been at the club. I got a knock on the knee early on and that played on my mind but with the away supporters trying to make life difficult for me that was the inspiration I needed.?

Assistant manager Andy Thackeray said: ?We had to dig in at the end but I think we merited a point. It would have been disappointing if Andy?s goal had been lost in a 2-1 away defeat as it was fantastic effort as was Chris? performance

?We all know about Chris and that?s what he there?s for, he was superb but we had the rub of green and it was nice to take four points out of Margate.?

Earlier pressure came from the home side and it was a stunner for Chris Kinnear?s men when Boro took the lead with their first real threat.

Quayle and Ducros had a neat inter-change of passes in midfield before

the latter exploded past Lee Shearer, cut inside and crashed a magnificent rising drive past keeper Charlie Mitten and into the net off underside of the bar.

Margate responded and levelled on 18 minutes. Ade Clarke?s corner was only half cleared back to the midfielder and this time his cross found Beard 10 yards out at the near post and his well-timed header found the target off the inside of the post.

Quayle was only inches wide from close range soon after before Mac-Kenzie began his heroics by bravely blocking at the feet of Jay Saunders and then superbly turning aside Beard?s long range exocet that was heading for the rigging.

Boro, for whom the back four battled manfully throughout, began the second half confidently but the chances all came Margate?s way, with MacKenzie saving Terry Mc-Flynn?s first-timer at the second attempt and Greg Oates being denied by the legs of the keeper.

Boro were under siege yet their captain courageous continued to foil all the home side?s attempts as he turned a Phil Collins point-blank header onto the bar with Jean Michel Sigere?s follow-up effort being stopped on the line by Michael Love.

It was all desperate stuff going into the closing minutes as another Beard drive from distance was again finger-tipped on to the woodwork by the flying MacKenzie, who in the dying seconds produced a magnificent double stop. Beard?s point blank header looked destined for the net but MacKenzie dived full length to palm away and then reactive smartly to beat away Clarke?s low drive from the rebound.